http://news.yahoo.com/obama-seeks-le...145654051.html
AP – 50 mins ago.....
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's Democratic allies in the Senate are using a critical year-end spending bill as political leverage to try to force Republicans to negotiate bipartisan legislation to extend payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits due to expire at the end of the year.
An administration official said the president called Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., over the weekend and urged him to hold up the massive $1 trillion-plus spending package until an agreement is reached on the tax cuts and the unemployment benefits.
The White House is concerned that if the spending bill were to pass, House GOP leaders could orchestrate House passage of a GOP-tilting version of the payroll tax and jobless benefits legislation that would be unacceptable to Obama and Senate Democrats — but leave them in a political pickle — and then leave Washington. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal administration strategy.
The spending bill had been gaining bipartisan support in a combative Congress. But Reid's White House-backed maneuvering could jeopardize efforts to approve new spending before the current government funding runs out this weekend. That means lawmakers could be faced with the prospect of passing a stopgap measure to keep the federal government operating — or risk a partial government shutdown on Saturday.
Lawmakers had by Monday reached agreement on most issues on the $1 trillion spending bill, which cuts agency budgets but drops many policy provisions sought by GOP conservatives. It chips away at the Pentagon budget, foreign aid and environmental spending but boosts funding for veterans programs and modernizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
Carney said that Congress has already passed a number of stopgap spending bills and passing another one wouldn't be a problem. "This isn't about a shutdown," he said.
A House vote is expected Thursday and the Senate is likely to follow in time to meet a midnight Friday deadline before a stopgap funding measure expires.....snip~
You can check the link and read just how much this bill is affecting.....and to what they all have agreed to so far. But then, OOOOPS There it is. Fricken STOP-Gap Measure. Once again to keep the government up and rolling. I called it.....what did I say with the last stop Gap measure. Unreal! They actually think that with all this confusion the American People have forgotten. Carney has come right out and stated there will be no Government Shutdown. Once again putting the blame on Republicans. But says nothing about all those Demos supporting the Bill.
Then its pass the Stop Gap measure and be home for that White Christmas. Well for most of our Aristos they will be off somewheres catching a tan. Or campaigning someplace warm. I knew it......sorry I got to say it. $#@!ing Stop Gap measure and duping the American People again!
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